The Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—mentioned these seven because each of them had perfected the specific act of worship he performed. One scholar even composed a treatise about them, which he entitled al-Lumʿah fī Awsāf al-Sabʿah (A Gleam on the Qualities of the Seven).

• The just ruler: he has fulfilled all that leadership requires.
• The youth who grew up worshipping Allah: he has fulfilled what is obligatory in worship.
• The man whose heart is attached to the mosques: he has perfected the upkeep of the mosques through the five daily prayers, for Allah says, “Only those who believe in Allah and the Last Day maintain the mosques of Allah” (9:18).
• The chaste man who resisted the woman of rank and beauty: he has perfected fear of Allah.
• The giver of charity who conceals it: he has perfected the act of giving.
• The man who weeps in private remembrance of Allah: he has perfected sincerity.

Concerning His words about David, upon him be peace—“and he fell down bowing and turned in repentance” (38:24)—there is no doubt that he prostrated. The Sunnah and the unanimous agreement of the Muslims establish that he prostrated to Allah. Allah, exalted is He, praised him for “falling down bowing,” which is the opening movement of prostration. The Qur’an therefore highlights the beginning of his action—his descent into bowing—to show that this very falling is an intended form of worship, even though it was done so that he might prostrate. Likewise, He praised the Prophets, saying that they